Vacuum cleaner



w. LEATHERS 'VACUUM CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Oct. 15, 1950 INVENTOR.

w. LEATHERS VACUUM CLEANER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "Original Filed Oct. 15, 1930 INVENTOR.

Reissued Aug. 31, 1931 The object of my invention is to produce a vacuum cleaner nozzle which remains parallel with the floor in conjunction with that type of cleaner wherein the motor suction unit is integral with the handle thereof, and hinged to the nozzle.

One of the desirable objects of my invention is to produce a lightweight cleaner of the motor-onthe-handle type which will stand unsupported on the floor, and means whereby the handle will remain at any desirable angle with the floor. A

further object of my invention is to produce a device with many or all of the said functions and made in the least expensive manner. To accomplish this purpose, I have devised such hinged nozzle in such form that it may be made essentially of stamped metal. 7

The vacuum cleaner is of the motor-on-thehandle-type.

, 0 In order to set forth my invention so that all familiar with these arts may understand, I have ed drawings of whichwithin my invention.

Figure II is a front view of same.

Figure III is a partial longitudinal crosssec tion of the nozzle mechanism.

30 same.

In Figure I, I is a handle containing a filter element 2. 3 is a perforated filter cover surrounding the motor-housing. The handle I is rigidly joined to the'cover 3 by suitable means 4.

35 A suitable latch 5 catches the shaft H which joins the rollers I4, latching the under-nozzlecarriage' 6 thereto for purposes of convenient storage. Dirt may be blown from the handle of this bagless cleaner by removing the cap I and 40 reversing the air current in the filter unit '3 by pressing the thumb-latch 8 as shown in patent application No. 492,424. A blower-housing 9 is integral or rigid with a transverse tubular sec- 45 tion II for purposes of attaching the cleaner mechanism to the nozzle-carriage. It should be notedthat with this form of structure the nozzlewhile the'nozzle at ll remains parallel with the 50 floor permitting advantageous cleaning under low furniture. The transverse cylindrical portion of II is held. to the home-carriage by means of suitable straps l2. Two arms ll projecting back-- wardly from the nozzle are provided with rollers 55 ll. Theseroliersmaybeioiuedonetotheother prepared the following specification and append- Flgure I is a side view of a vacuum cleaner,

Figure IV is a transverse cross-section of the provided with an air inlet In which inlet is made suction-handle-unit may be laid flat on the floor I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VACUUM CLEANER Ward Leathers, Haworth, N. J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Quadrex Corporation, a a corporation of Delaware Original No. 1,937,765, dated December 5, 1933 Serial No. 488,793, October 15, 1930. Application for reissue December 4, 1935, Serial No.

9 Claims. (01. -156) by a cross-shaft I4 which, as shown, will not interfere with operating the cleaner flat on the floor as indicated by the dotted lines.

I wish to make it clear that the hinged nozzleunder-carriage 6 may be used with any type of motor blower, filter, or bag construction, as desired. It is applicable, however, .primarily to that type of cleaner where the motor-suction-urit issupported on the handle.

Figures III and IV, the fan-housing 9 together with its air inlet [0 and its transverse cylindrical portion l5 are shown as a die-casting, naturally this part may be of other manufacture, such as a sand-casting, or may be built up of stamped parts, or may be stamped and welded to a tube l5. Through the tubular portion ii there is an opening into l0 and any other suitable ports of inlet, distributed as desired in its lower portion and as shown at iii. A central port or opening ll', somewhat slot-wise permits of the spring anchorage The openings for air inlet to ill may be provided practically as desired since it -will be noted that both ends of the tube I5 are also open being covered only by the nozzle stamping 6. The nozzle stamping 6 is so formed in the die that it has a front projection l6 rolled about a wire core to give it rigidity. It also has protuberances I6 on the bottom between which are notches l8 which permit a slight air inlet. The part 6 has formed .in it a semi-cylindrical recessed portion l9 which serves as the cradle and bearing for the tube l5. This part 6 also has two hollow arms l3 extending rearwardly from the nozzlefor supporting the shaft I4 and the rollers I4. Between the arms I3 the part 6 is so formed as to exclude the inlet of air and hold the anchor rod II. In one of the last stamping operations, the arms l3 may be closed, as shown, on their underside. A slotlike part 23 is provided in the semi-cylindrical portion of 6 which roughly corresponds to the slotlike opening in I5, for the free play of the anchor II when the vacuum cleaner is turned on its hinge. Any other ports in i5, as in i6, must also have corresponding ports in the part 6, but, since both ends of the tube ii are open, these ports l6 may be eliminated entirely if rmsired. At the line 2. the stamping 8 is sheared a suitable distance at a. stamping operation early in its manufacture while part of the stamping is turned upward at 25 on a radius corresponding to and registering straps I: Join the parts l6 and c in ahingelike manner. The strap. may be made of two flush with the periphery of the tube l6. Suitable pieces (as indicated in Figure HI) and clamped together as at 26. v The strap l2 may be fastened tdi thestamping 6 in any suitable manner, such as by rivets shown at 21. The strap l2 overlaps the nozzle 6 at 25 a suitable distance to prevent air leakage and may have a shoulder atgZB to prevent the sideward movement of the parts 9-l0l5. The semi-cylindrical part of the stamping as well as the underside of the strap 0 I2 is lined with a suitable, yieldable material 29 such as felt, which may be attached to 8 and 12 by means of cement (such as rubber or cellulose cement).. The felt 28 may be cut in one piece provided it covers the semi-cylindrical face of 6 with openings for ports therein and with flaps long enough to extend upwardly around l5 underneath the entire inner surface of [2 and with extensions on the ends as shown at 30 and filling the space between the strap I2 and the stamping 6 so that no leakage may occur onthe upper semi-cylindrical juncture .of these two- A spring 3| may be assembled in the cylparts. inder I5 before I5 is assembled into 6. This spring is turned two ways from the center. A sultableloop 3| at its central portion provides means of attaching the anchor rod Il after the spring is in the cylinder. Notches 32 on the end of the cylinder l5 provide anchorage forthe outward ends of the spring 3|. These anchorages are made before the part 9 is set in the part 6. A stamped underpan 33 is providedat its forward edge with turned up channels 34 for sup.- porting the forward edge of the nozzle, and for limiting the size of objects that may enter the cleaner. The notches 35 on the underside serve the same purpose as the notches ill in the part 6. The underpan-33 may be joined .to stamping 6 in any desired manner as by rivets 36. Since the spring 3| is fastened at 32 to the cylinder is at both ends and held by the anchor rod H in the center, it is possible to set the spring under such tension that it will compensate the weight of the motor .unit and vacuum cleaner handle. It is thus possible to make the handle of the vacuum cleaner stand at any angle with the floor desired. I To assemble this nozzle-carriage the straps ITO l2 are riveted to 6 and the wheels H applied.

The spring 3| is placed in the cylinder l5 with both ends latched in place. Thepart 8 is set into the part6 with the felt 29 properly in place. The clamp 26 is closed, and where i8 is eliminated the straps II are now riveted or bolted to part 6. The anchorage rod I1 is joined to II from the underside of the nozzle. 33 is now Joined to 8. The anchorage rod I1 is then given suitable'tension by means of nuts.

Having set ,forth my invention so that all familiar with these arts may understand, I wish to it understood that these-principles are applicable in many devious ways without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim: 1. In a'vacuum cleaner, the combination of a base member comprising a suction nozzle, said base having sufllcient spread on the floor to support the rest of the cleaner in upright position, a motor-suction-housing; one end 0' said housing;- a trunnion joint between the other end of the housing and the floor unit comprising a horizontally disposed hollow cylindrical part attached to the housing transverse- 1y, to the longitudinal-axis thereof, said joint also comprising; a bearing for the hollow cylindrical .75 part on the base member, there being registering a handle rigid with,

ports through said trunnion parts and suitable connections whereby the suction nozzle is operatively connected through said ported trunnion parts with the interior of the motor-suctionhousing; and spring means connected across the trunnion joint arranged to uphold the housing and handle from the floor or base unit.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, the-combination of a base member comprising a suction nozzle, said. base having sufilcient spread on the floor to support the rest of the cleaner in upright position, a motor-suction-housing; a handle rigid with one end of said housing; a trunnion joint between the .other end of the housing and the floor unit comprising a horizontally disposed hollow cylindrical part attached to the housing transversely to-the longitudinal axis thereof, said joint also comprising a bearing forthe hollow cylindrical part onthebase member, there being registering ports through said trunnion parts and suitableconnections whereby the suction nozzle is operatively connected through said ported trunnion parts with the interior of the motor-suction-housing; and ahellcal spring within the cylindricalhollow member anchored respectively to said cylindrical member and the bearing-base-member, said spring being adjustable as to tension, to uphold said housing and handle from the floor or base .unit.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, the combinationof a base member comprising a suction nozzle, said base having suflicient spread on the floor to support the rest of the cleaner in upright position; a motor-suction-housing; a-handle rigid with one end of said housing; a trunnion joint between the other end of the housing and the floor unit comprising a horizontally disposed hollow cylindrical part attached to the housing transversely to the longitudinal axis thereof, said joint also comprising a bearing for the hollow cylindrical part on the base member, there being registering ports through said trunnion parts and suitable connections whereby the suction nozzle is operatively connected through said ported trunnion parts with the interior of the motor-suction-hdusing; and .a pair of oppositely woundhelical springs disposed end to end within the cylindrical hollow member and said bearing, with their outer ends anchored to said member; and means for tensioning said springs connecting the inner ends of both springs adjustably to the base member, said means extending through the walls of the cy lindrical hollow member and its bearings which I are slotted for this purpose.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a floor member comprising a suction nozzle having a suction nozzle opening, said member having in said joint whereby the suction nozzle is operatively connected therethrough directly to the interior of the motor-suction-housing.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a motor-suction-housing-unit rigidly attached to an operator's handle at one end and having a rigid, hollow, intake extension at the other end, and a floor carriage comprising a suction nozzle at right angles to said handle, said carriage having suiilcient spread front to rear on the floor to support the motor-suction-housing-unit free from the floor, and hollow trunnlons having bearings joining said extension and said carriage 1 together, there being means in said bearings whereby the suction nozzle is operatively connected through said bearings and said extension directly to the interior of the motor-suction housing.

6. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination oi a motor-suction-housing unit rigidly attached at one end to an operators handle and having a hollow extension at the other end, and a base 16 member comprising a suction nozzle, said base member having a support-sufllciently projecting rearwardly to support the motor-suction-housingunit and handle in an otherwise unsupported position, and with a floor wheel attached to said 20 support, and a hollow trunnion joint between said motor-suction-housing-unit and said base member there being means in said hollow trunnion joint whereby the suction nozzle is operably connected through said hollow trunnion joint and said extension directly to the interior of the motor-suction-housing.

'7. Ina vacuum cleaner, the combination of a 'motor-suction-housing-unit rigidly attached to an operator's, handle, and a base member comprising a suction nozzle, said base member having suflicient extension in a rearward direction transverse to the nozzle to support the motorsuction-housing-unit and handle in an otherwise unsupported position, a swivel joint between said housing unit and said floor member disposed transversely to the movementot the cleaner for permitting change in the angular relationship between the cleaner portion and the base member and with the motor-suction-unit air intake immediately adjacent to said swivel joint.

8. In a vacuum cleaner, the combination of a motor-suction-housing unit rigidly attached to an. operator's handle, and a base member comprising a suction nozzle, said base member hav-- ing sumcientextension in a rearward direction transverse to the nozzle to support the motorsuction-housing-unit and handle in an otherwise unsupported position, a swivel joint between said said suction unit and yieldable but resisting means joined across said joint for holding unaided the motor housing unit at a desired angle with the floor.

9. In a vacuum cleaner,'the combination of a motor-suction-hqusing-unit rigidly attached to an operators handle, and a base member comprising a suction nozzle, said base member having suillcient extension in a rearward direction transverse to the nozzle to support the motorsuction-housing-unit and handle in an otherwise unsupported position, said base member exten sion being supported on a wheel, and a hollow trunnion joint bridged by a spring for holding the suction unit in a desired position, one member of said joint being integral with the inlet portion of said suction unit and one with said base member, said hollow trunnion joint members providing communication between said nozzle and said suction unit. 

